A woman name Akasha came through a wooden frame. She had a large gray sash covering her eyes and she wore a loose brown tunic and black flowing skirt and a blood red cloak. Her wild blonde hair was visible through the hood that was held in place with an obsidian halo with spikes of varying sizes going all around it. She extended her hand that resembled a crocodile as she requested to meet Vidonia. I told her that I have no idea who Vidonia is. But I will consult with everyone I know and get back to her. She politely explained, "Vidonia is the name Jetta gave your mother the day she was born. She is summoned for a trial. If she suceeds she will be the new queen of Adroit." I summoned mom and they left together.
I didn't see her for the rest of the day. I went to sleep and mom woke me up. She explained that once I became the guardian I must surrender my name. There is a formal announcement. The realms will be told my new name. I had trouble chosing between Kaelen which means Storm Watcher and Dern which means hidden or secret. Granny fused the name. I was named Kaelen Dern. I was ordered to go to Yami. I was ordered to have a word with Caliginous. He is the warden of the prison. I was told the warden was Kerrigan Eldritch. I was confused. Granny explained, "Caliginous is his title. Kerrigan Eldridge is his name"
The portal to Yami shouldn't open and so I sent a note. I made it clear this was official business. They had better send an emissary to talk terms or I will send Tiberius. Granny wondered if it is an actual threat. I grinned, "You weren't here during the planetary alignment. Had you been here you would send him too." Granny tilted her head as her eyes widened. Mom was wearing regal outfit and she was curious about how to deal with Morgana and her familiar. I told her that there two natural ingredients that can help. One is bloodvine Lily and the other is gravebloom. I had to explain that bloodvine Lily is a flower blooming in the underverse. When smelled the pollen will enter the body and dry the blood thus killing the familiar. Gravebloom is found exclusively in Desdemon. Once inhaled the pollen turns the body into stone. It was mentioned that it was the only thing that could kill Morgana.
Since Belladonna owes me so I asked her for some. She sent her gargoyles to collect it. She says she still owes me. She is giving it because she wants Morgana dead. She requested the Verity ring for a brief moment. She promised to return it untainted. I asked her not to mention the Grimoire of Tigres to another person since a Morganian came to the mansion. She was curious, "What is a Morganian" I shrugged, "Some who is loyal to Destro Morgana. Their job to assist her with the unmaking of the realms" she stared like she has been struck. She promised to keep her mouth shut. I gave her the ring and she came back an hour later. Granny had her drop the ring in a bowl filled with enchanted milk and saw it didn't change color. I took the ring out and put it on. She thanked me as she left. Mom and granny disappeared in a cloud of smoke. And I sat down to watch the moving tapestry on the fourth floor. As I walked past the bust of Bordello the mad a drop of hot wax fell on my hand. I stared at for a moment and inspiration hit me.
Merida was sprinkling bone powder all over the floor. The carvings on the floor turned angry red and burned the powder. She was curious why the floor was burning her spell. I explained that whatever she is sprinkling is something that counters the defenses. So the bone powder is burned off. She stared for a moment and asked what I need her to do. I sent her on an errand and she came back with everything. I used the ingredients to make the antidote for a serpentus. One of the deadliest poisons in the realms. I looked up to see her observing my potions skills. I gave her permission to explore the mansion with two exceptions. First was the attic and the second was part of the cemetery. It is an official no go zone. She promised to comply. Granny and saw the potion I was making. She was curious. I explained it was an antidote. She stared curiously. I continued, "Mother's coronation is coming. There are rivals who are those who will happily try to kill her. So I am making her something to keep her alive."
I looked up to see her staring vacantly. I finished making it and poured them into vials. I reached for the cork to seal the vial to stop the liquid from leaking. I corked one and the others corked themselves. I smiled at granny and she smiled, "Thank you for being so being so forward thinking." I shrugged, "I love my mother very much. She is the only family I have left so I am not interested in saying goodbye just yet." I asked if Merida could make a few antidotes as I go upstairs and search the Grimoire for a potion which will detect any and all poisons. Merida stepped forward and she started mixing ingredients. I asked Mrs. Kol to help her. Tiberius was told to come as my plus one. I walked in and the pages started turning. It opened to a blank page and ink blots rose up. It was as though the words were written by an invisible hand. My question was swiftly answered. I need to get some ingredients from Nyx. I hope granny won't mind.
I asked her permission to collect a few ingredients to help save mom. She came with me. She was curious. First I collected flower of the rock. I had found the yellow variety. I needed to find the pink one. I explained what it was for and she send her minions to get the flower. They collected a basket full of it. The next was getting a Phytobezoar from a Ceryneian Hind. It is a golden deer. She found a herd and got one. The next was a blood crystal. It looks milky with red streaks that look like veins. The next was night berries. The white ones are lethal while the black ones are used as antidotes. Last was water from the dark one's well. It is in the heart of the black forest. Granny got me some. I was not allowed to leave until I made the potion.
I was given a mortar and pestle. I first crushed the Phytobezoar. Then I added olive oil. I added flower of the rock and crushed it to a paste. Blood crystal went in next and I kept going till it was a dry paste. I added the seeds of the night berries and once they were mixed properly. I boiled water from the dark one's well. And added the paste. The paste disappeared and water began to glow a faint pink. I poured it into a glass bottle and we went to Adroit to have a word with the tester. Granny was present while everything was tested for poison. A barrel of honey dew meant to be used in the coronation was poisoned. I discovered roast Oxen was poisoned. Several fruits were laced with poison as well. The courtesans set out to find the culprit. I asked granny to find the guilty one because I am suspicious of the head courtesan Mildred. She was annoyed the entire we were testing for poison. I gave her the ring and she went to interrogate.
Mildred was found guilty and she was forced to divulge who else was involved. They were publicly executed and the coronation commenced. Mother walked out in a puffy white dress and a cloak with a lengthy train that goes for miles. She got on her knees and spoke the words. Then they placed a crown craved from a single large diamond. It looked like the crown Glinda wore from the old wizard of oz movie. They placed it on her head and the crowd cheered. Granny was happy. She looked like a proud mother. She turned around and stared at me. I explained that I am keeping an out for assassins. She caught my eye as I was scanning the place. I turned to face mother. I watched as a golden sceptre was placed in one hand. An ostrich sized golden egg on the other.
She rose and everyone bowed. She asked us to rise. She sat on a throne as knights from different sectors pledged their allegiances to her. I went to look for any threats. I asked Granny to stay with mother until I return. She asked me why. I made the mistake telling her that I noticed someone who could be trouble. She was surprised to hear that. I asked her nicely to stay with mother. She needs her presence. I am going to handle the situation. She didn't let me go by myself. She sent her pet dragon too. Dmitry asked me what I was looking at. I told him that I needed the person alive. His job is to detain him. He asked, "Exactly how do I detain him?" I blinked, "Grab the person by their hands and stay afloat. Or better yet sit on them. They will be helpless." Dmitry cackled as he searched for trouble. The perpetrator saw me and tried to run. I pointed him out to the dragon and he flew faster than I could blink. When I caught up to him Dmitry was sitting on him. I heard Granny cackling, "Very nice."